A retired teacher will offer free homework help to DeKalb School District 428 students in grades 3-5. Space is limited; register at the youth service desk or by phone.

Free Community Meal

Time: 5 – 7 p.m.

Date: Every Wednesday; next, Nov. 20

Place: Feed'em Soup, 122 S. First St.

More information: feedemsoup.org

For transportation, call 815-293-7433. Diners pay what they can; those who cannot pay can eat for free. Choose from spaghetti with marinara sauce, meatloaf with mashed potatoes or chicken fajitas with rice and beans, all served with soup or salad.

Whovians are invited to share their love of the Doctor and opinions about companions, foes and travels over snacks. The person with the best "Doctor Who"-related costume will win a gift card to Barnes & Noble. This event is for adults and mature teens and tweens.

NIU alumnus Marissa McGrath will talk about her business, which offers historical walking tours of a pioneer town in Washington state. She will talk about how to research the stories of your community and mold them into a narrative to engage audiences.

Bilingual Story Time

Time: 10 a.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Place: DeKalb Public Library youth services

More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 250 or theresaw@dkpl.org

Story time in Spanish and English for children up to age 5 and their caregivers. Translations are provided, so children learn to appreciate stories, songs, and puppet play in two languages.

Open House

Time: Noon – 3 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Place: DeKalb County Highway Department, 1826 Barber Greene Road

An open house celebrating the 100th anniversary of the county highway system.

Food, drinks and entertainment. A live auction of pies donated by local celebrities and businesses, plus a silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Proceeds support Family Service Agency of DeKalb County Senior Services.

Free Movie: 'The Hunger Games'

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Place: DeKalb Public Library meeting room

More information: 815-756-9568 or dkpl.org

Free screening with popcorn and light refreshments. The movie is rated PG-13.

Intro to the Internet

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Place: DeKalb Public Library youth services

More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 220

Learn the basics of navigating the World Wide Web. Sign up by phone or at the reference desk.

Dancers stay on their feet for eight hours straight to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. All money raised will help the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Participants pay $20 to register and raise funds prior to the event. To register, visit www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/NIUDM. To donate, visit www.helpmakemiracles.org/participant/NIUgeneral.

OCB Midwest States Bodybuilding Competition

Time: Prejudging 11 a.m.; finals 6 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: The Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St.

Tickets: $20 prejudging; $30 finals

More information: 815-758-1215 or egyptiantheatre.org

Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a $5 discount on tickets to the finals.

DeKalb Wrestling Hall of Fame Banquet

Time: 5 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: Best Western DeKalb Inn & Suites, 1212 W. Lincoln Highway

Cost: $25

More information: 815-751-7780

The DeKalb Wrestling Club will celebrate new inductees in its Hall of Fame.

Art Exhibit Opening Reception

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: The Ballroom, 134 1/2 Lincoln Highway

Artwork by John Airo, Darick Maasen and Dan Kwarcinski will be exhibited through Nov. 30. Acoustic music at the reception will be provided by The Blind Staggers.

DeKalb Festival Chorus: 'This Shining Night'

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: First Lutheran Church, 324 N. Third St.

Tickets: Adults $12, students $8, family $25

More information: 815-517-0243

The concert will feature music by Beethoven, Brahms, Copeland, Lauridsen and Gjielo, symbolizing the darkness of the fading year to the promise of renewal.

A simple Filipino meal will be served by the Filipino-American Association of Northern Illinois University to raise funds for disaster relief to help ease the devastation Typhoon Haiyan caused in the Philippines. Donations are tax-deductible and will support the American Red Cross' efforts in the Philippines. Donations can also be mailed to Evelina Jose Cichy, 2944 Country Club Lane, DeKalb, IL 60115. Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross, with Philippine Relief on the memo line.

Living After Loss

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Date: Monday, Nov. 25

Place: KishHealth System Hospice

More information: 815-756-3000

Join a member of the hospice team for continuing support if you have lost a child, no matter the child's age. Registration required.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

Place: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 Twombly Road

The members of the church offer a free Thanksgiving dinner open to anyone in the community who would like to attend.

Barb City Manor will host a Thanksgiving dinner for residents and the community. The menu includes roast turkey with dressing and gravy, mashed potatoes, baked squash, Waldorf salad, roll, beverage and a choice of Dutch apple or pumpkin pie. Reservations are required by Nov. 25.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Time: 4 – 6 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 28

Place: Feed'em Soup, 122 S. First St.

All are invited to eat. Donations to help Feed'em Soup's mission are accepted, but not required.

Heartsaver AED/CPR

Time: 5:30 – 9 p.m.

Date: Monday, Dec. 2

Place: KishHealth System EMS facility

Cost: $45

More information: 815-748-5951

This certified course for lay rescuers teaches when to call 911, how to give CPR, how to use an AED and how to provide choking relief. Price includes book. Registration required.

Need some time for holiday shopping, or just some parents' time out? All ages of children are welcome at this fundraiser for St. Catherine's youth group. Donations will help fund the youth group's mission trip next summer. Call or email to RSVP.

KIRKLAND

Kirkland Historical Society Annual Meeting

Time: 7 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 20

Place: Olson Chapel, 309 S. Fifth St.

The speaker will be Pat Brennan, on the subject of sheep and stockyards in Kirkland. There will be a display of recently-donated World War II uniforms and memorabilia.

SYCAMORE

Story Time

Times: 10 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 7 p.m. Thursday

Dates: Wednesdays and Thursdays through April; next, Nov. 20

Place: Sycamore Public Library

More information: 815-895-2500 or sycamorelibrary.org

For independent children 3 to 6 years old. Caregivers must remain in the library, but need not remain in the room with the children.

Bingo

Time: Card sales start at 6 p.m.; play begins at 7:15

Date: Every Wednesday; next, Nov. 20

Place: Sycamore Veterans Home, 121 S. California St.

Holiday Decluttering Tips

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 21

Place: Sycamore Public Library meeting room

Learn to remove clutter from your life and become better organized this holiday season.

Pamper Me Friday

Time: 5 – 8 p.m.

Date: Friday, Nov. 22

Place: Sycamore Integrated Health, 920 W. Prairie Drive, Suite J

More information: 815-895-3354

There will be food, raffles, free chair massages, hair styling and consultations with an eyebrow arch specialist, as well as a number of direct sales vendors like Thirty-One, Simply Tasteful, Mary Kay, Origami Owl, and Scentsy. There is no fee to attend.

Many of the artists whose work is exhibited will be present to demonstrate or discuss their art. Attendees can make their own art projects from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at a cost of $5 for children or $20 for adults.

Free showing of the holiday classic starring James Stewart and Donna Reed.

Holiday Bazaar and Pinspired Make-It and Take-It Crafts

Time: 1 – 5 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: St. Mary's Memorial Hall, 322 Waterman St.

Cost: $20 to craft; free to shop

More information: www.pinspiredcrafts.eventbrite.com

Holiday bazaar with local vendors and free refreshments. Crafters can also create two Pinterest-inspired crafts; materials, space and instruction are provided. For ages 8 and older. Buy tickets online for crafting.

Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Time: Noon – 2 p.m.

Date: Sunday, Nov. 24

Place: Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John, 26555 Brickville Road

More information: 815-895-4477 or office@stjohnsycamore.org

Toddler Time

Time: 10 – 10:30 a.m.

Date: Tuesdays through April; next, Nov. 26

Place: Sycamore Public Library

More information: 815-895-2500

Music and stories for children aged 18 months to 3 years old.

Blood Drive

Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 27

Place: Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 Bethany Road

The Party Doctors

Time: 9 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

Dates: Nov. 27 – 28

Place: Cabana Charley's

Local band The Party Doctors performs.

WATERMAN

Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic

Time: 9 – 11 a.m.

Date: Thursdays; next, Nov. 21

Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care

A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.

Gobbler Gallop

Time: 8 a.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23

Place: Waterman Elementary School, 220 N. Maple St.

Cost: $20 in advance; $25 on race day

More information: gobblergallop5k.com

The Indian Creek High School band will provide entertainment during registration, with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.